Self-contained heated treatment apparatus

ABSTRACT

A self-contained heated wax treatment apparatus can include an outer shell and a rack disposed inside the outer shell. The rack can include a receptacle holder and at least one heater holder. A receptacle can be connected to the rack. A heater can be connected to the heater holder of the rack. Activation of the heater causes heat to flow to the receptacle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/816,824, filed Apr. 16, 2013 which was a U.S. 371 National Stageentry of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2010/045435 filedAug. 13, 2010. The contents of each of these applications are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if set forthverbatim.

FIELD

The following description relates generally to devices for heating heatactivated substances, and more particularly to a self-contained heatedwax treatment apparatus.

BACKGROUND

For many years, the only manner in which personal skincare items in thespa market could be warmed or heated was by utilizing an external heatsource. Typically, this source was a pot of boiling or hot water, anelectric heating apparatus or other basic heating sources. In eithercase, while the warmth was certainly available for use, the risk ofhaving that heating apparatus in the proximity of spa guests wassignificant. For instance, a spa guest could easily be scalded by hotwater, and the danger of using electrical appliances in spa-typeenvironments is widely known.

Another drawback to conventional methods of heating therapeuticsubstances for skincare treatments in spas is sanitation. For example,in many conventional therapeutic wax treatments, the wax is heated in alarge vessel in which many different users dip their hands/feet insuccession. Thus, after the first user undergoes the wax treatment, thewax in the vessel becomes contaminated by the dead skin cells, bacteriaand dirt on the user's hand/foot. Each successive person to undergo thewax treatment further contaminates the common wax supply in the vessel.Thus, there is a need for individual disposable wax receptacles so thatthe wax is not contaminated by multiple users. Further, there is a needfor an apparatus to safely heat such receptacles to a temperature abovethe melting point of the wax.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of a self-contained heated wax therapy apparatusdisclosed below solve the foregoing problems. The following simplifiedsummary is provided in order to provide a basic understanding of someaspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensiveoverview, and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or todelineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is topresent some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the moredetailed description that is presented later.

In one aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a self-contained heated waxtreatment apparatus includes an outer shell and a rack disposed insidethe outer shell. The rack includes a receptacle holder and at least oneheater holder. At least a first receptacle is mounted to the receptacleholder of the rack. The first receptacle contains a heat activatedsubstance. A heater is mounted to the heater holder of the rack inthermal conductive contact with the first receptacle. Activation of theheater causes heat to flow to the first receptacle and activate the heatactivated substance inside the receptacle.

The outer shell may comprise two halves hingedly connected to each otherso as to expose the rack when the two halves of the outer shell arespread apart and conceal the rack when the two halves of the outer shellare closed. The rack may be hingedly connected to the outer shell. Asecond receptacle may be mounted to the receptacle holder of the rack inthermal conductive contact with the heater. The second receptacle mayalso contain a heat activated substance. The rack may be removable fromthe outer shell rather than hingedly connected thereto. For example, therack may be slidably disposed inside the outer shell.

In some embodiments, the first receptacle is a heat therapy receptaclesuch as a glove. The heat activated substance in the first receptaclemay be a solid that melts after the heater is activated, for example awax such as paraffin. The heat activated substance may have a meltingpoint temperature above which it becomes a liquid that drains to thebottom of the first receptacle where it is stored at a temperature notgreater than 5° C. above the melting point temperature of the heatactivated substance. This may be the case even when the heater ismaintained at a temperature not less than 25° C. above the melting pointtemperature of the heat activated sub stance.

The outer shell may include compression members that compress the firstreceptacle against the heater. The heater may be a heater pouchcontaining an exothermic reactant. The heater pouch may also contain anactivator separated from the exothermic reactant by a breakable barrier.This breakable barrier may be shearable by pulling on a tab connected tothe breakable barrier and extending outside of the heater pouch.Alternatively, the breakable barrier may be frangible. The activator maybe a liquid such as water or an electrolyte solution.

The heater pouch may further comprise a vent for expelling gases afteractivation of the exothermic reactant. The vent may comprise, or may bereplaced by, a pressure regulator that regulates expulsion of gases fromthe heater pouch to maintain a target gas pressure inside the heaterpouch while the exothermic reactant reacts with the activator. Theheater pouch may comprise at least one outer wall that presses againstthe first receptacle when the heater pouch is inflated to the target airpressure. The heater pouch may comprise at least two leaves, and theheater pouch may be mounted to the heater holder of the rack with thefirst receptacle between the at least two leaves of the heater pouch.

The first receptacle may include at least two internal compartmentsseparated by a barrier permeable to the heat activated substance afterthe heat activated substance is activated. The barrier permeable to theheat activated substance may be a perforation line.

The rack may include at least one collector chamber below the receptaclefor holding the heat activated substance inside the first receptacleafter the heat activated substance is activated. The receptacle holderof the rack may include one or more flanges, and the first receptaclemay include a pocket that is hangable on the flange of the receptacleholder. The rack may also include an inner chamber that is the heaterholder. Finally, the shell may include an aperture for venting gases.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects are described herein in connection with thefollowing description and the annexed drawings. These aspects areindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the claimed subject matter may be employed and the claimedsubject matter is intended to include all such aspects and theirequivalents. Other advantages and novel features may become apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered in conjunctionwith the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a self-containedheated wax therapy treatment apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the self-contained heated wax therapytreatment apparatus of FIG. 1 shown with the outer shell opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the self-contained heated wax therapytreatment apparatus of FIG. 1 shown with the outer shell opened and therack at an alternate angle with respect to the outer shell.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the self-contained heated wax therapy treatmentapparatus of FIG. 1 shown with the outer shell opened.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a receptacle for use with a self-containedheated wax therapy treatment apparatus.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a front view of one embodiment of a heater for use with aself-contained heated wax therapy treatment apparatus.

FIG. 6B is a front view of one embodiment of a reactant compartment forinsertion inside the heater of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is a front view of another embodiment of a heater.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the heater of FIG. 7 with the upper layerremoved for clarity.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the heater of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10A is a front view of the sealed activator compartment inside theheater of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the sealed activator compartmentof FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the sealed activator compartment ofFIG. 10A after three strips are formed.

FIG. 10D is a perspective view of the sealed activator compartment ofFIG. 10C showing the two outer strips folded under the sealed reactantcompartment.

FIG. 10E is a perspective view of the sealed activator compartment ofFIG. 10C showing the sealed activator compartment being shorn open bypulling on the middle shear strip.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a self-containedheated wax therapy treatment apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rack for use with the self-containedheated wax therapy treatment apparatus of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a profile view of the rack of FIG. 12, showing a receptaclemounted to the receptacle holder of the rack.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a heater.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the heater of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a chart showing effective force output over time for oneembodiment of a heater pouch.

FIG. 17 is a front view of another embodiment of a receptacle for usewith a self-contained heated wax therapy treatment apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a self-contained heated waxtherapy treatment apparatus comprises a rack disposed inside an outershell. The rack has at least one receptacle holder and a heater holder.A receptacle containing a heat activated substance is mounted to thereceptacle holder and a heater is mounted to the heater holder with theheater in thermally conductive contact with the receptacle. When theheater is activated, heat flows from the heater into the receptaclethereby activating the heat activated substance inside the receptacle.The heat activated substance may be a wax or resin that melts when heatis applied.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a heated wax therapytreatment apparatus. Heated wax therapy treatment apparatus 100 includesouter shell 102 which, in this embodiment, comprises first half-shell104 and second half-shell 106. First half-shell 104 and secondhalf-shell 106 are hingedly connected to one another in a clamshellmanner. Outer shell 102 also includes vent 108 which is used for apurpose to be described below. On the side of outer shell 102 oppositethe hinged connection of first half-shell 104 to second half-shell 106are tabs 110 which are used to open outer shell 102 by spreading apartfirst and second half-shells 104 and 106. Finally, outer shell 102includes pedestal 112 which provides vertical stability to outer shell102. Pedestal 112 may be formed integrally with first half-shell 104 orsecond half-shell 106.

FIGS. 2-4 show three views of the inside of outer shell 102 after firstand second half-shells 104 and 106 have been spread apart. Firsthalf-shell 104 includes pin 116 which is engageable with slot 114 insecond half-shell 106. The engagement of pin 116 in slot 114 helps toalign first and second half-shells 104 and 106 when outer shell 102 isclosed. First and second half-shells 104 and 106 each include at leastone clasp 118. Clasps 118 may be magnets or any other releasable lockingmechanism known in the art, for example closures used in cabinetry.First and second half-shells 104 and 106 may also each includecompression member 122, which may be a compressible cushion or simply arigid protrusion on the inner surfaces of first and second half-shells104 and 106. Finally, it can be seen that hinged connection betweenfirst and second half-shells 104 and 106 is provided by hinge 120.

Disposed inside outer shell 102 is rack 130 which may be hingedlyconnected to outer shell 102 by rack hinge 132. It should be noted,however, that rack 130 is not necessarily hingedly connected to outershell 102 and may instead be rigidly connected to first half-shell 104or second half-shell 106. Furthermore, rack 130 may not be connected toouter shell 102 at all and instead may simply rest inside outer shell102 in a vertical position.

Rack 130 includes at least one receptacle holder 134. In the illustratedembodiment, rack 130 includes two opposing receptacle holders 134separated by heater holder 136. Receptacle holder 134 may comprise oneor more flanges from which a receptacle may be hung. In the illustratedembodiment, each receptacle holder 134 comprises two flanges. However,in other embodiments, receptacle holder 134 may take another form, suchas a chamber for holding a receptacle. Heater holder 136 is disposedbetween the two illustrated receptacle holders 134 and comprises aninternal chamber in rack 130 for holding a heater. Finally, rack 130also may include at least one collector chamber 138 below receptacleholder 134.

Receptacle 150 is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Receptacle 150 includestreatment chamber 152 and substance chamber 154. Substance chamber 154is disposed adjacent to treatment chamber 152 such that the two chambersshare a common wall for the length of substance chamber 154 (see FIG.5B). The peripheral edges of treatment chamber 152 and substance chamber154 are sealed by seal 155. Furthermore, the bottom edge of substancechamber 154 (i.e., the edge of substance chamber 154 furthest from theentrance to receptacle 150) is sealed to the outer wall of treatmentchamber 152 along transverse seal 157.

It can be seen that in this embodiment receptacle 150 is a glove or mittand treatment chamber 152 is shaped to accommodate a human hand.However, receptacles of other shapes are also contemplated, for examplewith treatment chamber 152 shaped to accommodate a human foot or otherbody part (see FIG. 17). Heat activated substance 156 is disposed insidesubstance chamber 154. In this embodiment, heat activated substance 156is a therapeutic wax such as paraffin that is solid at room temperature.

Treatment chamber 152 and substance chamber 154 are separated bypermeable barrier 158 which may be a plurality of perforations orapertures. As best visualized with reference to FIG. 5B, if heatactivated substance 156 is melted, the melted heat activated substance156 will flow from substance chamber 154 through permeable barrier 158and into treatment chamber 152. Finally, receptacle 150 includes flap159. Flap 159 is attached to receptacle 150 along the upper edge ofreceptacle 150 (i.e. along the opening of the glove) and along the twoopposite edges. Flap 159 thereby forms a pocket along the upper edge ofreceptacle 150.

To mount receptacle 150 on receptacle holder 134, the pocket formed byflap 159 is placed over the flanges of receptacle holder 134 so thatreceptacle holder 150 hangs from the top of rack 130 with treatmentchamber 152 held in collector chamber 138. As receptacle 150 may belonger than rack 130 is tall, treatment chamber 152 may be “bunched up”inside collector chamber 138. This “bunching up” of treatment chamber152 ensures that once heat activated substance 156 melts it does not allsimply collect at the lowest point of treatment chamber 152 and insteadis relatively evenly distributed inside treatment chamber 152.

One embodiment of heater 160 is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In thisembodiment, heater 160 is an impermeable pouch that holds a reactantwhich is stored in permeable pouch 162. Permeable pouch 162 may includecross-stitching which forms a plurality of small chambers. Where thereactant is a powder, these chambers ensure that the reactant does notcollect at one end of permeable pouch 162 and instead remains relativelyevenly distributed inside permeable pouch 162. Permeable pouch 162 isdisposed inside the impermeable pouch of heater 160. Heater 160 maysimply have an open upper end or may instead comprise pressure regulator164. Pressure regulator 164 maintains a predetermined pressure insidethe impermeable pouch of heater 160 after an activator is added to thereactant inside permeable pouch 162 and an exothermic reaction releasesreaction gases which escape in a controlled manner through pressureregulator 164.

When heater 160 is activated, it begins to heat heat activated substance156. Where heat activated substance 156 has a melting point below thetemperature of the surface of heater 160, heat activated substance 156will melt. It is notable that once heat activated substance 156 melts,it immediately drains from substance chamber 154 through permeablebarrier 158 and into treatment chamber 152. This is a notable advantagebecause it prevents heat activated substance 156 from being overheatedto possibly dangerous temperatures. Once heat activated substance drainsto the bottom of receptacle 150, it is no longer in thermal conductivecontact with heater 160 because melted heat activated substance 156 isnow disposed below heater 160 at the bottom of receptacle 150 insidecollector chamber 138. In one embodiment, heat activated substance 156is not heated substantially beyond its melting point even though thesurface of heater 160 may be at a temperature greater than 20° C. abovethe melting point of heat activated substance 156.

In one embodiment, the activator added to heater 160 to cause anexothermic reaction with the reactant inside heater 160 is a liquid suchas water or an electrolyte solution. The activator may simply be pouredinto the upper end of heater 160. However, in another embodiment of aheater, such as heater 60 illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, the activator isstored in a shearable compartment which is disposed inside heater 60.

In this embodiment, heater 60 includes outer containment envelope 20which is formed from first layer 22 and second layer 24 (see FIGS. 8 and9). First layer 22 and second layer 24 are bonded together along theperiphery 26 of outer containment envelope 20. The bond between firstlayer 22 and second layer 24 is air- and watertight so that outercontainment envelope 20 is a sealed container. Pull tab 30 is adhered tofirst layer 22 over slit 23 in first layer 22. Although slit 23 ispresent in first layer 22, outer containment envelope 20 is nonethelessa sealed container (prior to activation of heater 60) because pull tab30 is adhered to the surface of first layer 22 all around slit 23 tohermetically seal outer containment envelope 20.

FIG. 8 shows heater 60 with first layer 22 of outer containment envelope20 removed in order to reveal the contents of heater 60. Sealedactivator compartment 40 is shown in hidden lines because it isunderneath reactant compartment 50. Sealed activator compartment 40includes transverse seal 41 which segregates the contents of sealedactivator compartment 40 from the inside of outer containment envelope20. Three strips of material are connected to sealed activatorcompartment 40 adjacent to transverse seal 41. Two outer strips 46 arefolded under sealed activator compartment 40 with their tips fixedlyanchored inside outer containment envelope 20 to periphery 26 of outercontainment envelope 20. The third strip, middle shear strip 48, extendsaway from sealed activator compartment 40. The tip of middle shear strip48 is attached to pull tab 30. Reactant compartment 50 is disposed ontop of sealed activator compartment 40 and may include a membrane thatis permeable to the activator contained inside sealed activatorcompartment 40.

As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, middle shear strip 48 passes through slit 52in reactant compartment 50 and then through slit 23 in first layer 22 ofouter containment envelope 20. If reactant compartment 50 is disposedadjacent to slit 23 inside outer containment envelope 20, reactantcompartment 50 forms a barrier or dam that prevents reactants fromescaping through slit 23. However, slit 23 nonetheless permits gasses toescape from inside outer containment envelope 20.

To activate heater 60, the user pulls on pull tab 30 which causes sealedactivator compartment 40 to shear open and empty its contents, in aprocess to be described in further detail below. To understand the pouchactivation process, it is instructive to describe the construction ofsealed activator compartment 40 with reference to FIGS. 10A-10D. FIG.10A shows a top view of sealed activator compartment 40 with shearingmaterial 49 connected thereto. Strips 46 and 48 are formed from shearingmaterial 49 in a process described below. Sealed activator compartment40 and shearing material 49 (and thus, strips 46 and 48 as well) may allbe integrally formed with one another, for example from a single sheetof polymeric film that is folded over upon itself and then sealed aroundits edges and at transverse seal 41. Shearing material 49 may comprisetwo layers of material corresponding to upper layer 42 and lower layer44 of sealed activator compartment 40. However, shearing material 49 mayalso each be formed of a single layer of material.

The dashed lines in FIG. 10A represent pattern lines along shearingmaterial 49. During manufacture of heater 60, shearing material 49 iscut along the dashed pattern lines to form strips 46 and 48, as shown inFIG. 10C. Outer strips 46 are optionally trimmed in length relative tomiddle strip 48. Between outer strips 46 and middle strip 48 are shearlines 80. As used herein, the term “shear line” refers to a cut or tearin a material that will lengthen (i.e. propagate) in generally the samedirection as the cut or tear when the material is subjected to shearingforces. Once a cut or tear in a material is established, very littleshearing force is required to extend the shear line. As seen in FIG.10C, sheer lines 80 terminate adjacent transverse seal 41. The region ofseal 41 in the path of shear lines 80 is a predetermined failure regionof sealed activator compartment 40 because when a user applies shearforce to the area (in a process described below) shear lines 80 willlengthen until they shear through transverse seal 41 thereby shearingopen sealed activator compartment 40.

As shown in FIG. 10D, once strips 46 and 48 are formed, outer strips 46are folded under sealed activator compartment 40, which is theninstalled into outer containment envelope 20 in this configuration. Whensealed activator compartment 40 is installed in outer containmentenvelope 20, the tips of outer strips 46 are anchored to outercontainment envelope 20 so that outer strips 46 remain stationaryrelative to outer containment envelope 20. Thus, for the purposes ofthis discussion, outer strips 46 should be viewed as immovable and fixedin place.

The process of shearing open sealed activator compartment 40 will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10E. The user opens sealed activatorcompartment 40 (i.e. the user activates heater 60) by pulling on middlestrip 48. Because outer strips 46 are anchored in place, the user'spulling force on middle strip 48 is converted into a shearing forcealong shear lines 80. The counterclockwise arrows in FIG. 10E indicatethat as middle strip 48 moves to the left, upper layer 42 of sealedactivator compartment 40 in the region above outer strips 46 is causedto “roll over” and shear along shear lines 80. The dotted linesextending from shear lines 80 in FIG. 10E represent the path shear lines80 will take if the user continues to pull on middle strip 48. Onceshear lines 80 completely cross transverse seal 41 in the predeterminedfailure region, sealed activator compartment 40 is ruptured and itscontents are released.

Returning to FIG. 9, once the user pulls on pull tab 30 (which, asexplained above, is attached to the tip of middle strip 48), sealedactivator compartment 40 will be shorn open and the activator insidesealed activator compartment 40 will be released into outer containmentenvelope 20 where it contacts a reactant inside reactant compartment 50.In one embodiment, reactant compartment 50 may be permeable pouch 162(shown in FIG. 6B) which is provided with slit 52 (shown in FIG. 8),then second reactant compartment 50 is permeable to the reactantreleased from sealed activator compartment 40. Any gases released by thechemical reaction of the first and second reactants may escape throughslit 23 in outer containment envelope 20. Furthermore, slit 23 may beprovided as a pressure regulating vent that maintains a predeterminedpressure inside outer containment envelope 20 of heater 60.

Now turning to FIG. 11, another embodiment of a heated wax therapytreatment apparatus is provided. In this embodiment, heated wax therapytreatment apparatus 200 includes outer shell 202 which is provided withvent 208 and pedestal 212. In this embodiment, outer shell 202 isone-piece and does not have two halves that clamshell together. Pedestal212 may be integrally formed with outer shell 202, in which case thebottom surface of pedestal 212 is open so that outer shell 202 can beplaced over rack 230 (shown in FIG. 12) which is not attached to outershell 202. Alternatively, pedestal 212 may be detachable from outershell 202, in which case a user lifts outer shell 202 from pedestal 212,places rack 230 on pedestal 212, and then replaces outer shell 202 onpedestal 212 over rack 230. In one embodiment, when outer shell 202 isplaced over pedestal 212 a substantially airtight seal is formed betweenouter shell 202 and pedestal 212. This may be accomplished providing arubber O-ring between outer shell 202 and pedestal 212.

As shown in FIG. 12, rack 230 is substantially identical to rack 130,with the exception that rack 230 is not connected to the inside of outershell 202. Rack 230 includes at least one receptacle holder 234. In theillustrated embodiment, rack 230 includes two opposing receptacleholders 234 separated by heater holder 236. Receptacle holder 234 maycomprise one or more flanges from which a receptacle may be hung. In theillustrated embodiment, each receptacle holder 234 comprises twoflanges. However, in other embodiments, receptacle holder 234 may takeanother form, such as a chamber for holding a receptacle. Heater holder236 is disposed between the two illustrated receptacle holders 134 andcomprises a chamber for holding a heater. Finally, rack 230 also mayinclude at least one collector chamber 238 below receptacle holder 234.

FIG. 13 illustrates rack 230 with one receptacle 150 mounted on onereceptacle holder 234 of rack 230. It should be noted that thisdiscussion equally applies to mounting receptacle 150 to receptacleholder 134 of rack 130 in the previously disclosed embodiments. As seenin FIG. 13, flap 159 of receptacle 150 is placed over receptacle holder234 so that the flanges of receptacle holder 234 are in the pocketformed between flap 159 and the body of receptacle 150. Thus, receptacle150 hangs from receptacle holder 234 with the bottom end of receptacle150 “bunched up” and collected inside collector chamber 238, asdiscussed above. Furthermore, a heater is disposed inside heater holder236. The heater inside heater holder 236 may be heater 160, asillustrated, heater 60, or any other suitable heat source including butnot limited to an electric heat source.

As shown in FIG. 13, the body of receptacle 150 is in thermallyconductive contact with heater holder 236 (although a small space isshown between receptacle 150 and heater holder 236 for drawing clarity,it is to be understood that receptacle 150 is in contact with heaterholder 236). Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, heater holder236 comprises an opening that allows heater 160 to directly contactreceptacle 150 so that heater 160 is in direct thermal conductivecontact with receptacle 150.

In order to increase heat transfer between heater 160 and receptacle150, a compressive force may be applied to squeeze together heater 160and receptacle 150. This compressive force may be provided by, forexample, compression members 122 attached to the inside surface of outershell 202 (or outer shell 102 in the previously disclosed embodiments).Alternatively, or additionally, the compressive force may be provided byheater 160 by regulating the pressure inside heater 160 with pressureregulator 162. This pressure regulation causes heater 160 to inflate andpress against receptacle 150, thereby squeezing receptacle 150 againstthe inner surface of outer shell 202. It has been found that a forceequivalent to the weight of a mass of between 1 kg and 12 kg of forcemay be exerted on receptacle 150 due to the inflation of heater 160. Forexample, FIG. 16 shows the force output over time for one embodiment ofheated 60. However, greater and lesser amounts of force are alsopossible.

Another embodiment of a heater is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In thisembodiment heater 260 is a pouch with three leaves or chambers, namelycentral chamber 264 and lateral chambers 266. Central chamber 264 andlateral chambers 266 are all in fluid communication with one another.Sealed activator compartment 240 and reactant compartment 250 aredisposed inside central chamber 264. Heater 260 further comprises seal268 and pressure regulator 262 which allows reaction gases to escape ina controlled manner thereby maintaining a desired pressure insidecentral chamber 264 and lateral chambers 266. Thus, central chamber 264and lateral chambers 266 inflate due to the reaction gases. When heater260 is mounted to rack 230, it can be seen that central chamber 264 isdisposed inside heater holder 236 and lateral chambers 266 hang over thetop of receptacle holders 234 so that each receptacle 150 is sandwichedbetween one lateral chamber 266 and central chamber 264. Due to thisconfiguration, receptacles 150 are compressed against central chamber264 thereby improving heat transfer.

As seen in FIG. 15, sealed activator compartment 240 and reactantcompartment 250 are disposed inside central chamber 264. In thisembodiment, sealed activator compartment 240 is substantially identicalin structure to sealed activator 40 discussed above. In particular,sealed activator compartment 240 is ruptured by pulling on middle shearstrip 248 which extends out of heater 260 where it accessible by a user.However, unlike heater 60 disclosed above, in this embodiment thereactant compartment (reactant compartment 250) is an activatorpermeable pouch that is wrapped around sealed activator compartment 240.Thus, when sealed activator compartment 240 is ruptured by pulling onmiddle shear strip 248, activator immediately contacts and permeatesreactant compartment 250 thereby setting off an exothermic reactionwhose reaction gases inflate heater 260.

Throughout this disclosure, the terms “activator” and “reactant” mayrefer to two substances that when mixed together undergo an exothermicreaction. Examples of exothermic reactions that can be used include thecombination of water with strong acids, combining alkalis and acids,polymerization, thermite reaction, aluminum-based reactions,magnesium-iron-based reactions, anhydride-based reactions, and so forth.One particularly suitable, non-toxic exothermic composition is Lava Gel®(manufactured by Forever Young International, Inc, Escondido, Calif.,USA) which is known to exhibit a very controlled temperature for anextended period of time, with simply the addition of water or anelectrolyte solution, such as saline water (as the activator). However,other activators and reactants may be used, according to designpreference, including reactants that require activation or moderation bymore than one activator compound or element. Furthermore, although thepresent disclosure in general contemplates exothermic reactions, it isof course possible to provide activators and reactants that undergo anendothermic reaction if the goal is to cool the receptacles rather thanheat them.

An example of the method of using the presently disclosed embodimentswill now be described. In this example, the heat activated substance inthe receptacle is a therapeutic wax (such as paraffin, soy-based wax orvegetable based wax) or lotion that is solid at room temperature butmelts if exposed to a heat source above the melting point temperature ofthe heat activated substance. The user first either opens the outershell to expose the rack or removes the rack from the outer shelldepending on the embodiment. The user hangs one or more receptaclescontaining the heat activated substance from the receptacle holder ofthe rack, with the substance chamber of the receptacle higher than thebottom of the treatment chamber of the receptacle. The user also placesa heater inside the heater holder of the rack. The user then activatesthe heater (for example, by pulling a tab which ruptures an activatorchamber, or by simply pouring activator into a heater pouch containingan exothermic reactant). The user then immediately closes the outershell or replaces the outer shell over the rack.

Once the outer shell is in place, the user will see reaction gases(non-toxic, and mainly consisting of steam, though essential oils may beadded to generate a pleasant and therapeutic vapor) escaping from thevent in the outer shell. An additional benefit these visible reactiongases is that they serve as an “automatic clock” for the device: Oncethe gases stop venting from the outer shell (approximately 5 minutes insome embodiments), the user knows the exothermic reaction is completeand that the heat activated substance has been in thermal conductivecontact with the heater for sufficient time for the heat activatedsubstance to melt and collect in the treatment chamber of thereceptacle. The user then opens the outer shell to expose the rack, orremoves the rack from the outer shell, and removes the receptacles fromthe rack. The user (or the person receiving the treatment) then placeshis or her hands (or feet, or other body part as the case may be) in thereceptacles in order to receive therapeutic treatment from the nowheated heat activated substance.

The materials used to construct a heated wax therapy treatment apparatusare not critical. However, in one embodiment, the outer shell and therack may be made from a metal such as aluminum or steel. If the rack ismade from a material that readily conducts heat, such as metal, heattransfer from the heater to the receptacles is improved. The heater andthe receptacles may be made from a plastic pouch constructed fromplastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene or biodegradable and/orcompostable plastics. The receptacles may have a micro-taffeta innersurface in order to increase surface area. The heat activated substanceinside the receptacles may be a wax or resin such as paraffin with amelting point of approximately 50° C.

The dimensions of the heated wax therapy treatment apparatus are alsonot critical. In one embodiment, the outer shell is approximately 31 cmin length and 13 cm in width at the widest point. The heater may be 20cm in length and 16 cm in width. The heater holder of the rack, ofcourse, has slightly larger dimensions than the heater in order toaccommodate the heater. The receptacle may be 38 cm in length and 18 cmin width, and may contain between 30 to 100 g of heat activatedsubstance, depending on the application. Finally, the rack may beapproximately 23 cm in both length and depth and 9 cm in width. However,it is to be understood that these exemplary figures should not beconsidered limiting, as the presently disclosed embodiments may beconstructed in any size.

There are numerous advantages provided by the presently disclosedembodiments. The disclosed embodiments provide for sanitary hot wax spatreatments because the therapy receptacles are only used by one person,thereby eliminating the problem of multiple people dipping their handsin a common vessel of melted wax.

Furthermore, the presently disclosed embodiments provide for veryconvenient spa treatments. No electricity is required, and the entireself-contained heated wax therapy treatment apparatus is portable. Thus,treatments may be provided any location, indoors or outdoors. Thepresently disclosed embodiments are also very safe. Unlike conventionalspa treatments that require a potentially dangerous heat source such asa vessel of scalding hot water, the heater used in the presentlydisclosed embodiments is contained within the outer shell.

Further, because the melted wax collects at the bottom the treatmentreceptacle it does not remain in contact with the heater after it melts.Thus, the wax does not become dangerously hot. Additionally, there is nowasted wax as there is in conventional hot wax treatments where it isnecessary to empty the common wax vessel routinely due to contamination.Finally, the receptacles used in the presently disclosed embodiments aredisposable and may be constructed from biodegradable and/or compostableplastics.

What has been described above includes examples of one or moreembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill inthe art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations ofvarious embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodimentsare intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications andvariations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

1. A heat treatment device for use by a subject, comprising: an outershell comprising a compression member and operable between an open stateand a closed state; a rack disposed inside the outer shell; a receptacleholder and a heater holder comprised in the rack, the receptacle holderadapted to hold a receptacle, the receptacle comprising: a first surfacefacing the heater holder; and a second surface facing the compressionmember of the outer shell; wherein the heater holder of the rack isadapted to hold a heater comprising a reactant mixable with an activatorto produce an exothermic reaction that generates gases that inflate theheater to a target internal air pressure; wherein the compression memberis adjacent to the receptacle holder when the outer shell is in theclosed state and proximity of the compression member to the receptacleholder is adapted to press against the receptacle, when present in thereceptacle holder, when the heater is inflated.
 2. The device of claim1, wherein the outer shell comprises two halves hingedly connected toeach other so as to expose the rack when the two halves of the outershell are spread apart and conceal the rack when the two halves of theouter shell are closed.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the outershell comprises a vent operable to regulate the compression forceexerted on the receptacle by controlling gases from the heater producedby the exothermic reaction.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein theactivator is separated from the reactant by a barrier.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the barrier is shearable by moving a tab connected tothe barrier and extending outside of the heater.
 6. The device of claim1, wherein the receptacle further comprises a plurality of internalcompartments separated by a barrier permeable to a substance to beheated in the receptacle after heating the substance to be heated. 7.The device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is a one-piece outershell; and wherein the is rack vertically removably disposed inside theouter shell.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises: anouter impermeable containment envelope; a permeable pouch housing thereactant, the permeable pouch disposed in the envelope; and an activatorcompartment housing the activator, the activator compartment beingdisposed in the envelope and in communication with a tab for shearingopen the permeable pouch so the reactant and activator intermix.
 9. Thedevice of claim 8, wherein a plurality of outer strips are folded underthe activator compartment with tips of the outer strips anchored insidethe outer containment envelope; and a shear strip is extended away fromthe activator compartment and attached to the tab.
 10. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising a pedestal that supports the rack and theouter shell, and wherein a substantially airtight seal is formed betweenthe rack and the outer shell.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein thecompression force of the heater ranges between 5 lbs and 25 lbs for atleast five minutes.
 12. The device of claim 1, further comprising acompression member disposed inside the outer shell for squeezingtogether the heater and the receptacle.
 13. A heat treatment device foruse by a subject, comprising: a rack disposed inside a shell; a heaterremovably positioned with the rack, the heater comprising an activatormixable with a reactant to produce an exothermic reaction that generatesgases to inflate the heater, the heater comprising a temperatureregulation mechanism operable to prevent a substance to be heated incommunication with or adjacent the heater from exceeding a predeterminedtemperature; a receptacle mounted to the rack, the receptaclecomprising: an outer surface that is oriented towards the heater; and anopposite surface oriented away from the heater; wherein gases of theexothermic reaction inflate the heater causing the heater to squeezeagainst the receptacle.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the heateris a pouch comprising a vent for expelling the gases produced by theexothermic reaction.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the ventfurther comprises a pressure regulator that regulates the heatersqueezing the receptacle by controlling expulsion of gases from theheater to maintain a target gas pressure inside the heater.
 16. Thedevice of claim 13, wherein the shell is a one-piece shell; and whereinthe rack is slidably disposed inside the shell.
 17. The device of claim13, further comprising a compression member disposed inside the shellfor squeezing together the heater and the receptacle.
 18. The device ofclaim 13, wherein the heater squeezes the receptacle by exerting a forcebetween 5 lbs and 25 lbs for at least five minutes.
 19. A heat treatmentdevice for use by a subject, comprising: a rack in a shell; a receptaclein communication with the rack inside the shell; a heater incommunication with the rack, the heater comprising: an outer impermeablecontainment envelope comprising a central chamber in communication witha plurality of lateral chambers; a permeable pouch disposed in thecentral chamber and comprising a reactant; and an activator compartmenthousing an activator mixable with the reactant to produce an exothermicreaction, the activator compartment being disposed in the outerimpermeable envelope; and wherein gases of the exothermic reaction causeheat to flow from the heater to the receptacle.
 20. The device of claim19, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive a foot or a hand of thesubject.
 21. A method of preparing a single-use heat therapy device, themethod comprising: positioning a heat therapy substance in a receptacle,the receptacle adapted for receiving a hand or foot of a subject;positioning the receptacle and a heater on a rack in a shell, the shellcapable of housing the receptacle, the heater, and the rack, the heatercomprising reactant intermixable with activator to cause an exothermicreaction; mixing the reactant and the activator thereby inflating theheater; compressing the receptacle by inflating the heater; covering, bythe shell, the receptacle and the heater; and releasing gases from theshell, by the heater, for a predetermined duration of time.